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(No Model.)

J. J. WOOD.

ELECTRIC LIGHT REGULATOR.

Patented May 9, 1882.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES J. WOOD, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC-LIGHT REGULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 257,800, dated May 9, 1882,

Application filed February 4, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JAMES J. Wool), of the city of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric-Light Regulators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an arrangement of circuits and devices designed to afford a conducting-path around a faultyla-mp when from any cause, such as breakage of the carbons or failure of the regulating mechanism to act properly, the resistance in the light or carbon circuit rises above a regulated or determinate amount, thus interfering with the proper ac tion of other lamps in the same circuit.

Myinvention also relates to certain features of construction, which will hereinafter be fully described.

The form of lamp in which I have embodied my invention belongs to that general class in which the feed and regulation of the distance between the carbons are dependent upon the distribution of current in two derived circuits, one of which contains the carbons and the other of which constitutes a branch circuit of high resistance around the carbons, one or both of the derived circuits containing electromagnetic coils or helices for acting upon the regulating devices.

My invention consists in placing in thatone of the derived circuits containing the carbons (which,for convenience, Ish all term the in ain or light circuit,) an electromagnetic coil or helix independent of the regulating-coil controlling through suitable devices a second branch or derived circuit, preferably of a resistance approximate to that of the are, said. devices being brought into action to close the branch circuit by any abnormal diminution of the current flowing through the controllinghelix consequent upon an abnormal resistance at the are.

My invention also consists in a certain construction of the cores of the axial electromagnets contained in the main or light circuit, and the derived circuit to the same, which serve to give motion to the regulating mechanism for the purpose of feeding the carbons together or separating them to form the arc.

My invention further consists in details of construction belonging to the feeding mechanism proper and to the electro-magnct controlling the electric switch or circuit-closer for the branch safety-circuit.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a side view of a lamp containing my invention, a portion oftheframe beingremoved and the switchmagnet being shown in partial section. Fig. 2 is an end view of the axial electro-magnets in the main and derived circuits, and their movingcores. Fig. 3shows the form of a blank used in forming the circuit-closing point attached to the end of the axial electro-magnet in the main or light circuit which controls the safety branch circuit.

In the drawings, A and B represent the bottom and top plates of the lamp, upon which are mounted the coils M and S in pairs, the coils M in circuit with the carbons, and the coils S of high resistance in a derived circuit around the carbons. These coils are provided with cores E and D, attached to the lever F, pivoted at G in the frame P, which lever carries the regulating-train and by its movement separates the carbons or releases the trains in the manner to be hereinafter described.

The coils S and M oppose one anothers attractive effects, and so long as the arc is of proper length the lever will remain at rest; but upon any disturbance in the normal distribution of currents in the coils, owing either to the shortening or lengthening of the arc, the coils will be moved in one direction or the other to correct the change, the amount of current circulating in the coils M and S, respectively, being dependent upon the well-known laws governing the distribution of the current in derived circuits. As shown in Fig. 3, both pairs of axial magnetic cores are joined to a common cross-piece, 2, of iron or other magnetic material, which constitutes a neutral or bridge portion for each pair, and prevents any opposition of magnetic induction in the cores D E and D E. As thus constructed, each pair of cores, with the common bridgepiece, is in the form of a simple horseshoe-magnet, and the neutral or bridge portion of each pair constitutes the neutral or bridge portion of the other. This construction of the axial magnetic cores and coils gives simplicity and compactness to the organization, and where the cores and cross-piece are cast in one piece lessens considerably the cost of construction. .It also presents the further advantage that the ma gnetism imparted to the core directly by the helix, at one end thereof, is not opposed or interfered wlth by the magnetic induction from the helix at the farther'end of said core, as would be the case were the two cores simple straight bars magnetically independent of one another.

The releasing-train is shown as mounted in a frame, H, which is pivoted at the point 3 to the forked axial magnet-lever F. This train is of ordinary construction, and consists, as shown, of a cog-wheel gearing with a rack upon the side of the upper-carbon holder K, and connected, through the ratchet 6, pawl 7, wheels 8 and 9, with a detent-wheel, 4, and fly 5. The ratchet 6 allows free upward movement of the carbon-holder; but on the downward movement of the same the wheel 6 and pawl 7 engage with one another.

A spring, 12, secured to a stud, 13, projecting downward from the upper plate, B, and attached at its other end at 14 to the frame H, has a tooth, 1), formed by cutting and bending up a portion of the spring, to engage with wheel 4 and lock the train when the end of the lever carrying the train is raised. The link 12 is for the purpose of giving an approximately I parallel movement to thc frame carrying the wheel-work, which would otherwise, on the elevation of that end of the lever upon which it rests, be moved inward on the arc of a circle toward the carbon-carrier.

A retracting-spring, g, attached to lever F is connected with the screw-threaded rod or spindle h by means of a cross-pin, m, passing between the spirals. Nuts T T serve to adjust the rod h and the tension of the spring. By removing the springgfrom its attachment to the lever F, and screwingit upordown upon pin at, one or more turns may be included or excluded from action. This construction allows of both a coarse and fine adjustment, and renders the substitution of one spring for another unnecessary.

A dash-pot, 4.1, is attached to lever F, or to the compound armature supported thereby, for preventing sudden and violent movement. A stop, 42, also attached to the same lever, impinges against the heads of coils M S, so as to limit its movement.

The electro-magnet controlling the branch circuit with a resistance approximately equal to that of the normal arc is shown at It. This electro-magnetis of the form known as axial, and is provided with a core, 15, seated upon a spiral spring resting upon the metallic conducting-plate a, secured by a screw to the baseplate of the lamp. Upon the same plate, a, and encircling the core and spring, is a metallic cylinder, 20, embracing the upper portion of which is a metallic plate or washer connected by a thin spring, 21, with the head of the core. This spring is made as light as possible, in

order to oppose no obstacle to the free movement of the core. A bent plate of metal, :0, rests upon the head of the magnet, and its end is bent around and over the end of the core, so as to form contact therewith when the core is forced up by the coiled spring. The plate as surrounds the core and metallic cylinder, from which and from the connection 21 it is insulated by vulcanized fiber or other suitable material. W represents the resistance-coil in the branch or safety circuit controlled by It.

The binding-post I is for connecting the lamp with the outside circuit, and, as shown, is insulated from the frame of the lamp.

The other binding-post (not shown) is seated upon the upper plate of the lamp, and is in metallic contact with the plate and so with the frame.

Entering, say, at the latter post, the current has normallytwo paths open to it-one through the frame, the upper-carbon carrier, upper carbon, the arc, the lower-carbon carrier, which is supported in any well known manner by rods 34:, insulated, as shown, from the plate A, clamps 32, coils It, wire 26, coils M, wire 25, and to post I. The second path is through tine-wire helices S and to insulated post I. The third path, which is normally broken, but is closed when the electro-magnet R ceases to hold the core 15 drawn down within its convolutions, is through the frame of the lamp to plate n, core 15 orinclosing-cylinder, and connection 21, to contacts 3 3 connection :12, wire 37, resistance W, wire 35, which is connected to insulated post I.

The general operation of the lamp is as follows: While the are is of the proper adjusted length, the current divides between the helices M M and S S in the inverse proportion of the resistances of the circuits in which they are placed. The resistances in the coils themselves and their circuits are so proportioned, and the spring 9 is adjusted to such a tension, that the attractive effects in coils M will under these circumstances preponderate over that in coils S, and the end of the lever F carrying the train will be held in an elevated position with the wheel 4 in engagement with the detent I). The carbon-carrier, rack, and connected gear are thus held from movement. The core 15 of the coils It in the carbon-circuit is also held down against the action of the coiled spring upon which it is seated, and the branch or safety circuit, in which resistance W is included, is broken at the points yy.

As the carbons burn away the resistance at the arc increases and the attractive effects in M decrease, while those of S correspondingly increase, and as a consequence the end of the lever carrying the train is gradually drawn down by the action of the retractile spring 9, thereby gradually lowering the train and the connected carbon-carrier until thedetent b and wheel 4 are disengaged. The connected gear is then free to rotate by the action of the gravitating carbon-carrier, and the upper carbon is carried downward toward the lower until the arc is shortened, and the resistance so far lessened that the coils M again draw down the lever and bring the toothed wheel and detent into engagement.

Should the current strength in the general circuitincrease, thearc will be correspondingly lengthened, the cores E being drawn farther within the coils M, thereby still further raising the releasing-train. To this action the detent opposes no fixed obstacle, since it is attached to the yielding spring.

In case the upper carbon fails to feed, by reason of stickingin the gear-train, the carbons would gradually consume and the circuit become finally broken, thus interfering with the action of other lamps in the same circuit. To provide for this and other contingencicssuch as breakage of the carbons-l have placed the switch-magnet R in the main or light circuit. So long as the proper action of the arc continues the branch or safety circuit is broken; but upon the breaking of the light or carbon eircuit, or the occurrence of an abnormally great resistance, thecoils R cease to exert a sufficient attractive eli'ect upon core 15 to hold it depressed. The coil-spring thereupon raises the core into contact with the point 1 and the branch or safety circuit through W is closed. It the difficulty arises from breakage of the carbon, or from a sudden and marked decrease in the current strength in the general circuit, the carbons will be gradually fed by either until they come into contact and reestablish the main or light circuit. The coils M will thereupon act to raise the train and upper carrier to reform the arc, and simultaneously the coils R will act upon the core 15 and break the branch or safety circuit.

The electromagnetic switch It acts with certainty and promptness, owing to the fact that it is in the main or light circuit and is subjected to the action of the current passing through the arc. It of course requires but few convolutionsoflarge-sized wire-acircumstance that adds to facility of construction and lessens the cost. The axial magnet is preferred in this connection, as it is compact and requires no extra attachments to the frame, as does the ordinary forrn, so that the general appearance of the lamp is not marred. Other forms of electro-magnet may, however, be used.

What I claim as my invention is-- 1. In an electric-light regulator constructed to offer two conducting paths to the current, an axial electro-magnet placed in the main or light circuit, and provided with a movable core seated upon a coiled spring, in combination with contacts controlling a branch or safety circuit around the lamp ofa resistance approximately equal to that of the normal arc.

2. An axial electromagnetic circuit-closer consisting of electromagnetic coils or helices and a movable core provided with a contact, in combination with a metallic plate seated upon the head of the coils, and bent around to form a circuit-closing point to act in conjunction with the core.

3. In an axial electro-magnet switch, a movable core and supporting-spring, in combination with a supporting metallic plate and an inclosing metallic cylinder, substantially as described.

4. In an axial electro-magnet switch, the combination of a movable core, an inclosing metallic cylinder, and a flexible electrical corrnection from the cylinder to the core.

5. In an axial electro-magnet switch, the combination ot'a movable core, a metallic plate bent to form a circuit-closer for the core, and seated upon the head of the coils, an inclosing metallic cylinder for the core, and flexible electrical connection from the end of the core to the cylinder, substantially as described.

6. The combination, substantially as described, of regulating devices for an electricarc lamp, two axial magnetic cores controlling or supporting said regulating devices, two sets of coils or helices inclosing the ends of the cores, one set of coils being in the circuit with the arc and the other in a derived circuit to the arc, so as to be under the constant action of electric currents, and a common bridge or crosspiece of magnetic material joining the cores between the coils and at or near the center of the cores, the whole arranged as set forth, so that the coils at each end of the cores are free to exert their full force without interference from the opposing influence of the magnetic induction from the coils at the other end.

7. In an electric-light regulator, a releasingtrain the members of which are supported in a frame-work pivoted on the armaturelever, in combination with a parallel-motion link attached at one end to the frame-work in which the train is mounted and at the other to the plate or frame of the lamp.

8. In an electric-light regulator, a releasingtrain supported and pivoted on the armaturelever, in combination with a parallel-motion link carrying a detent for the train.

9. In an electric-light regulator, a pivoted releasing-train supported on the armature-lever, in combination with a parallel-motion link consisting of a flexible spring carrying a detent.

10. In combination with a flexible spring forming a paralle-Lmotion link for a pivoted releasing-train, a detent formed by cutting and bending up a portion of the spring.

JAMES J. WOOD.

Witnesses:

J OIIN J. DIFFLEY, ENocH Exams. 

